Drogheda dispute talks to go to LRC

The Labour Relations Commission is to host talks between unions and management over a dispute at a Coca-Cola plant in Drogheda…

The Labour Relations Commission is to host talks between unions and management over a dispute at a Coca-Cola plant in Drogheda.

Some 250 staff at Drogheda Concentrates, which makes soft drink syrup for export to Europe and north Africa, called in sick today in an unofficial "blue flu" protest over job losses at the plant.

Coca-Cola announced in September it plans to shut part of the plant by next year. It said that 90 additional jobs would be created in its factories in Ballina and Athy.

Talks between management and unions over redundancy packages broke down this week and staff decided to hold an unofficial strike at a meeting last night.

The LRC talks are expected to be held next week.

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